Traction control (esp) can someone please explain?

[johntheboy]

Hi just not too sure how exactly it works or what it will and wont prevent?  I was out driving in the rain the other day and thought id see how it would react.... as i persumed it was there for wet weather.... or was i wrong?  I persumed that there was an on-board computer which senced that one or more wheels was not acting in the correct way (not gripping properly) and then apply the brakes in the same was ABS does.  However i took a skid on a roundabout in the wet?  Just wondering if someone can explain the basics of how it works in english, what conditions to use it in and what it will and wont prevent?  Sorry if it sounds a dumb question!

Thanks in advance.

John

[posicarl]

electronic stability pizza?.....

cant remember what it stands for but say as your coming out of a wet corner and you boot it, instead of one or both driving wheels losing traction and the wheels start to spin it prevents that ghappening and lays the power down baby!!

The yellow light should flicker on the dash inside the speedo clock as its working (like a triangle inside a cicle sort of thing)

[Dub_Dude_16v]

Got this on my workds Sprinter van, although it's called ASR on that. Pain in the bottom sometimes, feels like the engine has cut out when it kicks in.

[AudiA8Quattro]

ESP is traction control similar to the basic EDL fitted to the mk3 golf's.
It works through the ABS system as already stated. In addition the ecu will also cut the engine power temporarily until the problem is sorted.

[johntheboy]

how am i still managing to skid then when i switch it on?

[Rhyso]

what sort of conditions are you skidding??

The MKIV isn't the best handling car by any means; in fact its very poor with understeer being induced very easily.  Don't forget that the diesel engine is much heavier than its petrol equivalent which would exacerbate the problem.

I got my wheels spinning in 3rd on the weekend going round a a roundabout.....the road was very wet mind!! 

[A7 UFO]

You'd do well to fit an ATB diff.  This directs power to the wheel with most grip rather than just cutting power ala traction control.  Imagine accelerating mid corner - the inside wheel normally lights up...with an atb diff it transfers power to the outside wheel which is under load meaning you accelerate through the corner.

[Rhyso]

don't put ideas into my head! I've just bought a house!!! 

[Bluefox]

Usually, traction control/ESP is usually on by default isn't it? The button turns the system off? I'll have a guess that's why you skidded when you thought it was on.

[johntheboy]

the button had (im guessing) switched it on as the traction control light was on on my dash....

as for the conditions it was wet and i understeered and went streight on!!! not very nice!